The installation of the cold chain items in the 47 counties by the counties' cold chain biomedical engineers, is currently ongoing with technical support by UNICEF and by the Ministry of Health through the national vaccination program, and is expected to be completed by April 2024.
Nilofer emphasised on immunisation and said it is a pillar of primary health care and UHC.
Immunisation vaccination is considered the most cost-effective public health measure, saving the lives of millions of children every year, around the world and in Kenya.
"UNICEF will continue to support tailored interventions to strengthen immunisation service delivery and reach the "zero dose" children," said Nilofer.
UNICEF's support includes integrated outreaches to reach the most vulnerable and remote populations and immunisation system strengthening activities including capacity building of health workers.
Additionally, UNICEF is expanding access to vaccines through procurement, distribution, installation and commissioning of cold chain equipment.
Other areas of support include procurement, clearing, distribution and deployment of routine infant vaccines, technical and financial support to the national level and counties.
Under the immunisation programme, counties are helped to develop and implement communication plans and mobilise communities for immunisation.
A 2016 national inventory revealed that approximately one in five health facilities in the country, representing 18 per cent, did not have cold chain equipment.
The facilities according to the report operated using vaccine carriers and cold boxes to offer short-term immunisation services, often leading to sub-optimal service delivery.
At least 81 per cent of the facilities with some type of cold chain equipment did not meet performance, quality, and safety (PQS) standards set for the immunisation supply chain in Kenya.
Nakhumicha said the report revealed worrying data, at a time when Kenya aspires to provide efficient, equitable, safe, and effective high-quality immunisation services.
In response to the report, the CS announced that the Ministry of Health worked on a joint investment initiative with, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance to provide Cold Chain Equipment to health facilities and sub-county depots in 47 counties.
"The initiative has resulted in 1,483 units of cold chain equipment worth $8,231,741 being distributed in all the 47 counties from 2017 to date," she said.
Nakhumicha said to complement enhanced cold chain equipment, the Ministry of Health will continue to support the procurement, warehousing and distribution of all childhood, adolescent, and adult vaccines to regional depots.
The CS further called on county governments to also invest in the maintenance of cold chain equipment that ensure safe vaccine transport and storage.